Saiyan Warrior Race Origins
Born of war and moonlight, they rise to shatter every limit.
A breed forged in blood and battle, the Saiyans are an extraterrestrial warrior race defined by immense physical strength, primal combat instincts, and the transformative power of the tail. Once ruling Planet Vegeta as conquerors, they served as galactic mercenaries for the tyrant Frieza before a genocidal purge reduced them to scattered survivors.
- Race Name
- Saiyan
- Home World
- Planet Vegeta (Destroyed)
- Former Affiliation
- Frieza Force
- Key Abilities
- Great Ape Transformation, Super Saiyan Transformation, Zenkai Boosts
- Notable Survivors
- Goku, Vegeta, Raditz, Nappa, Broly
- Status
- Scattered Survivors
Lore & Background
Their roots trace back to Planet Plant, conquered and renamed in honor of the royal Vegetan lineage. Society was stratified by combat power; infants were assigned missions based on potential, with every Saiyan—regardless of class—serving as a soldier or conqueror deployed to planets suitable for their strength. The defining biological signature—the prehensile tail—granted access to the Great Ape form under a full moon's energy.
Under Frieza’s employ, they became the universe's most efficient exterminators, trading planets for profit. Yet their efficiency bred suspicion. An ancient prophecy warned of a Super Saiyan capable of toppling gods. With no actual signs of this awakening having surfaced prior to the destruction, Frieza acted solely on fear of the legend and preemptively incinerated Planet Vegeta with a single energy blast.
While infant Kakarot was dispatched on a standard conquest mission to subjugate Earth, Prince Vegeta survived as a child remaining on Planet Vegeta during its annihilation. He only joined Frieza's forces after escaping the planet's fall. On Earth, the warrior ethos mutated: rage became protection rather than destruction. The Namekian encounter proved their myths true—limitless potential lay not in servitude, but in transcendent fury.
In Their Own Story
The cold light of Planet Vegeta's stars dimmed over the jagged horizon. Bardock stood atop a ridge, armor scuffed from a recent skirmish, sensing a silence heavier than any battle cry. His crew waited for orders, but he hesitated. The cosmos seemed to watch him back. In his mind’s eye, a vision burned—a boy with black hair standing amidst golden fire, defeating Frieza on Namek. He gripped his scouter tight, the realization crushing him: time was running out for them all.
Reader's Guide
Identify a Saiyan by their black hair and tail, though the latter is often removed for safety. Their culture prioritizes combat over diplomacy, yet the survivors on Earth have redefined this legacy. From mercenaries to guardians, they shifted from planetary conquest to self-improvement through rigorous training and fusion techniques. The Saiyan bloodline endures, proving that even a race bred for war can choose to protect life.
Did You Know?
- Saiyans lose only their Great Ape transformation ability if their tail is removed permanently; they retain other forms such as Super Saiyan.
- The Great Ape form multiplies base power by ten times under a full moon.
- Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta based on fear of the Super Saiyan legend, as no evidence of such an awakening existed at the time.
- All Saiyans were soldiers assigned to missions; low-class warriors were not destined for labor but deployed to conquer planets suitable for their combat power.